A List of Events & Resources for Writers in and around Michigan for 2020
February 15, 2020: Submissions Open for Springfed Writers Contest
This Members Only contest is funded and sponsored by Springfed Arts. Submission Guidelines: Free submission for current Springfed Arts members only.
February 22, 2020: Submissions Open for The Literature & Art Competition
Round One submissions may be previously created works. Previously published works must have permission from the publisher before being submitted for the competition. All team works submitted in round two must be original pieces created for the contest. Team pieces should include writing and art. Possible examples include an animated short film, a comic strip, or any writing and art related works. Be creative and have fun!
March 25, 2020: Springfed Writers & Music Series
March 26-28, 2020: Breathe Deeper Writers Retreat
Do you love writing, but struggle to find the time and space to do so? We would love to see you at the Breathe Deeper retreat this March! This is an excellent opportunity to dive a little deeper into the spiritual process of writing, sharpen your craft skills, and, of course, to simply write.
March 31, 2020: Submissions Close for Round One of The Literature & Art Competition
Round One submissions may be previously created works. Previously published works must have permission from the publisher before being submitted for the competition. All team works submitted in round two must be original pieces created for the contest. Team pieces should include writing and art. Possible examples include an animated short film, a comic strip, or any writing and art related works. Be creative and have fun!
April 2020 (TBD): Rochester Writers Writing Contest
A New Call for Entries will Begin in Spring 2020
April 3, 2020: National Poetry Month Celebration Detroit
Internationally-acclaimed poet, educator and activist Lupe Mendez will give a reading Friday, April 3, 2020 at the Scarab Club in Midtown Detroit. Mendez is a recent recipient of the Texas Institute of Letters John A. Robertson Award for a First Book of Poetry. Several Detroit-area poets will also appear, including John Jeffire, Brian Gilmore, Leslie McGraw, Kahn Santori Davison and Qiana Towns. The event’s theme is “Poetry & Music,” and will also feature three poet-musicians performing live: Tracy Kash, a Detroit Music Awards Jazz Vocalist of the Year, Carolyn Striho, a Detroit rock legend, and Thomas Galasso, Detroit Public Schools teacher and bassist.
April 4, 2020: Poetry Society of Michigan Spring Meeting
The Poetry Society of Michigan encourages and celebrates poetry groups across Michigan as member of National Federation of State Poetry Societies. PSM provides workshops, contests and opportunities to be published in two annual editions of our literary journal Peninsula Poets. Statewide meetings are held twice each year. (See the Events Page.) Please visit the Membership page for details on joining.
April 11, 2020: The Pre-Publishing Marketing Masterclass for Authors
If you didn’t know that the time to start marketing your work is after your first full draft has been written, or that a publishing company will hardly look your way without a social media presence in the thousands, the Pre-Publishing Marketing Event on April 11, 2020 is for you.
April 15, 2020: Close of Springfed Writers Contest
April 22, 2020: Springfed Writers & Music Series
April 24, 2020: Creative Writing Day at the DIA
James Hanks, Library Archivist for the Detroit Institute of Arts, welcomes members of Detroit Working Writers and their guests to a private, guided tour of the DIA Library and stacks. After the tour, we will with gather in the Library living room to write what artifact most impresses or relates to us.
April 25, 2020: Michigan Writing Workshop
This writing event is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more. Note that there are limited seats at the event (200 total).
April 25, 2020: Annual Spring Writers Conference
Focus on Non-Fiction Writing – Saturday, April 25, 2020 at Oakland University in Rochester, MI (Rochester Hills).
April 27 - May 1, 2020: Spring into Fearless Writing
A writing retreat for 8 women at St. Francis Springs, a 25,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility situated on 140 acres of beautiful and peaceful wooded property that offers a natural setting, 34 miles north of the Piedmont Triad International Airport at Greensboro, NC. Engage with other women writers in a safe supportive circle to use Peggy’s Centered Writing Practice. Explore the brook-side trails, walk the labyrinth, and discover quiet nooks for reading, writing, and contemplation.
April 30, 2020: Announcement of Top 20 Finalists & Teams for Round Two of Literature & Art Competition
Round One submissions may be previously created works. Previously published works must have permission from the publisher before being submitted for the competition. All team works submitted in round two must be original pieces created for the contest. Team pieces should include writing and art. Possible examples include an animated short film, a comic strip, or any writing and art related works. Be creative and have fun!
May 14-16, 2020: Writers Symposium
We are honored and thrilled to be celebrating 50 years of SSML at a prestigious institution in a world-class Midwestern city. Please note that participation in the Writers Museum event is limited to people who register by March 15, and that there will be no refunds after April 1.
May 28 - June 1, 2020: Bear River Writers Conference
The Bear River Writers’ Conference will celebrate its 20th anniversary in late May of 2020. Located on the shores of Walloon Lake in Northern Michigan, the conference offers workshops, panels, readings, craft talks, and good-spirited conversation. Guided hikes and pontoon rides are available, as are canoes and kayaks. Many of our participants have gone on to publish work that they started during the conference; friendships that began in the workshop or around the bonfire have developed and deepened. We’re a community of writers who challenge and support each other, who believe in hard work, camaraderie, and serious play. We hope you’ll consider joining us as we mark our two-decade milestone.
June 8-11, 2020: Interlochen Writers Retreat
Join us in 2020 to celebrate the 15th year of Interlochen’s Writers Retreat and spend four days writing new material in the course of your choice, attending presentations by award-winning faculty, and enjoying lakeside lunches and evening readings while making connections in the literary world.
June 30, 2020: Round Two Submission Deadline for Literature & Art Competition
Round One submissions may be previously created works. Previously published works must have permission from the publisher before being submitted for the competition. All team works submitted in round two must be original pieces created for the contest. Team pieces should include writing and art. Possible examples include an animated short film, a comic strip, or any writing and art related works. Be creative and have fun!
July 11, 2020: The Post-Publishing Marketing Masterclass for Authors
If you were unaware that it’s possible to maximize your book sales through social media after publishing, or that a book tour isn’t the only way to showcase your work and gain reader attention, the Post-Publishing Marketing Event on July 11, 2020 will cover these and much more!
July 31, 2020: Announce the Grand Prize Winners of the Literature & Art Competition
Round One submissions may be previously created works. Previously published works must have permission from the publisher before being submitted for the competition. All team works submitted in round two must be original pieces created for the contest. Team pieces should include writing and art. Possible examples include an animated short film, a comic strip, or any writing and art related works. Be creative and have fun!
August 1, 2020: Deadline to Purchase Tickets to the Tuscany Writers Retreat
For one week, from October 3-10, 2020, you will experience customized workshops dedicated to the craft of writing. Whether you are a novelist, playwright, or poet, prefer fiction or nonfiction, we'll be focusing on the craft of the writing process along with marketing, selling, and putting you in touch with writing professionals who know how to navigate the current market trends.
August 2020 (TBD): Zen Mind, Writer's Mind
September 2020 (TBD): 9th Annual Midtown Detroit Lit Walk
October 3-10, 2020: Tuscany Writers Retreat
For one week, from October 3-10, 2020, you will experience customized workshops dedicated to the craft of writing. Whether you are a novelist, playwright, or poet, prefer fiction or nonfiction, we'll be focusing on the craft of the writing process along with marketing, selling, and putting you in touch with writing professionals who know how to navigate the current market trends.
October 8-11, 2020: Lost Lake Writers Retreat
Thursday night opens with a gala reception. Friday and Saturday we offer talk/presentations, one-on-one conferencing and a panel discussion. The evenings will be readings from attendees and staff. After Sunday breakfast we gather to hear attendees read from new work they made during the weekend.
October 9-10, 2020: Breathe Writers Conference
Each of us has a multitude of stories. How can we steward our gifts when it comes to our own stories? A campfire comes to mind. Once you get the fire started, it'll burn well for a few hours, but then the flames start to dimish. We tend the fire by adding more wood to keep it strong. Likewise, we also must tend our stories so they can grow.
October 17, 2020: 13th Annual Fall Writers Conference
Fiction, Non-fiction, Business of Writing – Saturday, October 17, 2020 at Oakland University in Rochester, MI (Rochester Hills).
November 7, 2020: Courage Publishing Year End Thank You Gala
This event is by invitation only. If you'd like more information on how to attend, please contact us or sign up for our mailing list.
I'm sure I'm missing things from this list, so if you know of something, please list it in the comments so that we may add it to future posts!
Other Resources:
Michiana Writers Workshop: First Monday each month
Write On! Ann Arbor Meetup: Every other Monday
Revision Group: The adjacent Mondays to Write On! Ann Arbor
Pens, Poses & Inner Peace: A yoga & writing class that meets every Thursday
Rochester Writers: Meet one Tuesday each month
Meetup: A great resource to find local groups in your area!
Want to know more about the amazing things happening at Courage Publishing? We have a mailing list that will keep you up to date on all the future going ons including upcoming retreats, masterclasses, competitions, open submissions for publishing, and so much more! Sign up today!
Lexi Mohney is an award-winning, self published author and a book coach living in Ann Arbor, MI. Throughout her writing and coaching career, she's lived by the motto of courage, and worked with her own coaches, groups, and support system to see her Big Audacious Dreams come true so that she can help others achieve success, too. Her first published piece, Carnal Knowledge, won an award at the 7th Annual Bisexual Book Awards in NYC on June 1, 2019. She is in the process of querying agents for her latest novel, Soulkind, which is the first in the Soul Hunter Series. Contact her through her website or find her on social media with any questions.